Court of Queen’s Bench Justice William Tilleman said that determining a sentence for Holubowich may have been the most difficult thing he has ever done.

Tilleman’s eyes filled with tears as he told court he sympathized with dead teens’ relatives, who had suggested that a three-year sentence would not be enough. He also said he felt for Holubowich’s family.

Tilleman said he struggled with his decision and at one point considered a longer period behind bars.

But in the end, the judge said, the sentence jointly submitted by the Crown and defence was just and in keeping with similar cases.

Holubowich had been facing 16 charges, including impaired driving causing death and failing to remain at the scene of an accident.

His pickup truck collided with a car carrying five members of the Warriors football team from Grande Prairie Composite High School in October 2011.

Walter Borden-Wilkins and Tanner Hildebrand, both 15, and Matthew Deller and Vince Stover, both 16, were killed. Zach Judd, now 17, was pulled from the wreckage. He spent several weeks in a coma.